Things that Matter: 2013

Monday, December 9, 2013

Media Wrap-Up: October 24-December 9

Prescott E-News: (The same article also appears in Prescott Valley E-News and Chino Valley E-News)
http://prescottenews.com/index.php/education/education-news/item/22683-best-gift-for-kids-under-6-simple-toys-quality-time-with-adults

Daily Courier:
http://dcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=125722&SectionID=36&SubSectionID=1119&S=1

YCESA newsletters:
http://ycesa.com/files/Nov2013newsletter.pdf

http://www.ycesa.com/files/Dec%20%202013%20newsletter%20v.3.pdf

YRMC “Adopts” Families in Need for the Holidays

This month, the children of 44 families in the Quad-city area will be having a more joyful Christmas thanks to the generosity of several departments of the Yavapai Regional Medical Center.

YRMC is participating in “Adopt a Family for the Holidays”, a program that invites hospital departments to purchase gifts for the children of families participating in YRMC’s ‘Healthy Families’ program. Healthy Families is a free and voluntary home visiting program for families with children ages prenatal to five years old that is funded in part by First Things First. Through the program, families receive home visits every two weeks from a family support specialist, who partners with parents to boost the learning and development of their child through information, activities, developmental assessments and connection to other community resources. Healthy Families also holds monthly playgroups for families to come together, learn and have fun.

When YRMC CEO John Amos and YRMC COO Larry Burns heard about the “Adopt a Family for the Holidays” program from Healthy Families Director Lance Spears, they sent an email to every department of the hospital inviting them to participate. The response was huge.

“We’re so grateful to the staff of YRMC for bringing a joyous experience to the kids of forty-four families in our program,” said Spears. “Many of the families we work with are struggling financially, and we’re seeing a great deal of need.”

The families ‘adopted’ by the program created holiday wish lists, which were provided- without mention of family names- to participating hospital departments. Most of these wish lists included things like warm children’s winter clothes, diapers, basic toys, and household necessities. One family, who has been unable to afford a vacuum cleaner, put one on their list. These gifts will be dropped off to families at their homes by their family support specialist.

“Without this generous help, there wouldn’t be holiday gifts for most of these kids,” said Spears.

Community members wishing to support the children enrolled in the Healthy Families program are invited to donate diapers and children’s books, which can be dropped off in the lobby of the YRMC East Campus. For more information about Healthy Families, please call Lance Spears at 771-5651 X 3945.

Families Celebrate Halloween, Learn about Oral Health at VVMC

On Tuesday, October 29^th, a bumble bee, a cat, a football player, a ninja turtle, a cowboy, a dinosaur and more than a dozen other little creatures could be seen parading the halls of the Verde Valley Medical Center, stopping by staff offices to ask for a treat. The procession is a yearly Halloween tradition of Verde Valley Healthy Families and Parents as Teachers, which are both free home visitation programs for families with young children ages birth to five years. Both programs are funded by First Things First.

Through the programs, families with young kids partner with a family support specialist, who visits their home every two weeks and provides them information and activities to help their child grow and learn, assesses the development of their child, and connects them to other community resources.

“We love this program and tell our friends about it all the time,” said Stacey Adcox, who is enrolled in Parents as Teachers with her husband Adrian and their 18-month old son, Adrian. “We learn activities we can do with him that are based on his stage of development.”

Every month, Verde Valley Healthy Families and Parents as Teachers hold a joint playgroup for their participating families to come together, learn and have fun. Each October, the playgroup is held at the Verde Valley Medical Center, where parents and kids don their Halloween costumes to trick or treat around the hospital offices. Besides giving out the traditional sweet treats, hospital staff also gave out oral health friendly items, such as bubbles and pencils.

4-year old Kyra practices good tooth brushing techniques

on a set of giant teeth at the Halloween playgroup at VVMC.

Verde Valley Healthy Families recently received a grant from Delta Dental, which gave them the ability to bring dental health information, activities and materials to their family playgroups. This year, Dr. Mitzi of Cottonwood Children’s Dentistry also donated toothbrushes so that every child could bring one home with their Halloween treats. “We’re grateful to both Cottonwood Children’s Dentistry and Delta Dental because they have enabled us to educate families on early oral care,” said Susan Lacher, Director of Verde Valley Healthy Families. At the Halloween playgroup, families learned important dental health tips, including cleaning teeth every day, limiting sugar, and making sure their children have regular dental checkups beginning at age 1.

For more information on Verde Valley Healthy Families, a program of Verde Valley Medical Center, please call (928)-639-6566. For more information about Parents as Teachers, a program of Arizona’s Children Association, please call 1-888-771-3425 X 2026.

Local Consortium Focuses on Kindergarten Readiness

What are the skills that children need to be successful in kindergarten? It is this question that led dozens of educators to come together at Yavapai County’s first Early Childhood Education Consortium (ECEC) for a much-needed discussion about the transition from the preschool years to kindergarten.

The consortium was held on Saturday, November 2^nd at the Mariposa building of Prescott College, and was attended by preschool directors, child care providers, kindergarten teachers, and other education professionals from across the Quad-city area. The event, sponsored in part by First Things First, was organized by Prescott College student Sheila Atwater and Prescott College Faculty member Wendy Watson with the help of several other local education experts: Gena Hahn, Micaela Janowski, Vickey LaMotte, and Dr. Vicky Young.

The stakes are high for today’s kindergarteners, and it is critical that early educators of young children- including parents, infant care providers, child care providers and preschool teachers- are on the same page. The focus of the consortium was to get pre-K professionals and kindergarten teachers talking about the skills and dispositions kids need to be ready for kindergarten, and to create a list of these things to share with the public.

“Pre-k and kindergarten teachers rarely have the opportunity to come together to meet and converse about bettering the education of the young children in our community,” said Prescott College student Sheila Atwater. “By holding this event, we wanted to do something meaningful for education.”

“School readiness is not just about the child, it’s about ready schools and a community ready to support them,” said Wendy Watson, speaking at the consortium. Watson also said that the definition of kindergarten readiness often differs from school to school. “The same child with the same strengths and needs can be considered ready for kindergarten at one school, but considered not ready at another,” said. “That’s why it’s important to get this conversation going.”

The discussion, which was facilitated by Lori Deutsch of FAST consulting, yielded some exciting results. Participants were able to create a broad list of cognitive, behavioral and social skills that all kindergarteners need to succeed, which include the ability to pay attention and focus, the ability to take turns and share with others, basic letter recognition, and confidence.

When more children enter kindergarten prepared to learn, everyone benefits, and the Early Childhood Education Consortium was the first part of a continuing discussion about school readiness. Consortium organizers hope that this project will expand and grow to other parts of the county and the state, ensuring that more kids in Arizona enter kindergarten ready to succeed.

For more information about the Early Childhood Consortium or to be put on the mailing list for future events, please contact Wendy Watson at wwatson@prescott.edu.

Free Parenting Classes Work to Strengthen Family Relationships

When Sedona residents Sandra Papas and David Collin learned about the free parenting education classes available in their community, they jumped at the opportunity. To them, it was a no-brainer. It wasn’t that their family was having any issue in particular; they just wanted to gain more knowledge, tips and tools to strengthen their relationship with their two daughters. “We signed up to gain more skills, have some fun and reduce the stress in our family,” said David.

Now, the couple attends “Becoming a Love and Logic Parent”, a class taught by parent educator Sandi Cheney. Classes like these are made available across Yavapai County to parents and caregivers of young children ages birth to five years through a grant from First Things First.

“Becoming a Love and Logic Parent” meets once a week for a span of six weeks and includes free child care. Through the class, parents learn about child development and a variety of parenting skills, including simple communication tools and effective, low-stress discipline techniques. The class is not about telling parents what to do; it’s about giving parents a whole toolbox of ideas. It’s up to them to choose what works best for their family.

“I feel like I’m learning a new language,” said David. “In stressful moments, getting mad and yelling doesn’t get your goal accomplished. This has really helped me to step back in those moments and think of what I can say and do.”

“This has been helpful to us, and I think it can be helpful to any parent,” said Sandra. “It gives us additional skills, ideas and choices.”

Sandra Papas and David Collin meet with Parent Educator Sandi Cheney

their “Becoming a Love and Logic Parent” class at the Sedona YMCA.

Parents and caregivers can learn about the parenting class opportunities available across Yavapai County by visiting ParentsAZ.org, where they can find a calendar of upcoming classes. For more information about parenting education or to ask about a class near you, please call (928)-708-0100.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Program Promotes Quality Family Time

‘Parents as Teachers’ Visits Families to Promote Child Learning and Development

Traci and Pino Lira, parents of 4-year old Penelope and 10-month old Rendon, both work full-time. Despite their hectic schedules, they are committed to fitting in as much quality family time as they can.

That’s why they enrolled in Parents as Teachers (PAT), a free home visiting program for families with kids ages five and under. In Yavapai County, the program is put on by Arizona’s Children Association with grant funding from First Things First.

Through PAT, the Lira family gets a visit every two weeks from Jodie, their parent educator, who brings simple, fun and inexpensive learning activities that they can do together as a family, assesses the development of the children, provides informational sheets about the children’s’ stages of development, and connects them to any other community resources they may need. The goal of the program is to partner with parents to make sure their young children are healthy, happy, and learning. “It’s great,” said Traci Lira. “Who would turn down a free, educational program for their kids?”

Pino Lira, who works as a Deputy Clerk for the County, knows that strong families are the foundation of a strong society, and has seen first-hand what happens when families do not have the information and resources that they need. “Nowadays, many families have both parents working and struggle to find time together,” said Lira. “For us, visits from Jodie are dedicated family bonding time. Plus, it’s educational for both parents and kids,” he said.

The Lira family enjoys a music activity brought over by Jodie,

their Parents as Teachers Parent Educator

Pino Lira also said that nowadays, it’s difficult to comb through all the parenting information out there. “If you don’t have a degree in early childhood education, you don’t know everything about children’s development. With so many sources, it’s hard to know what’s best,” he said. Lira recommends Parents as Teachers to any family with a young child because it provides an expert source of parenting tools and knowledge. “If I need legal advice, I get a lawyer. If I need parenting advice, why not seek a parenting expert?”

Lira said. The family also appreciates the convenience of the program. “Parents as Teachers comes to you and works with your schedule,” he said.

The Liras want the transition from home to kindergarten to be as smooth and easy as possible for Penelope and Rendon. With the tools and information they receive from PAT, Traci and Pino are confident that they are providing their kids with the knowledge and experiences they need to grow, learn, and succeed in school later on.

Parents as Teachers is a free home visiting program for families with children ages prenatal to five years, available in both Spanish and English. For more information about the program or to enroll, please call Arizona’s Children Association at 1-888-771-3435 X2026.

Preschoolers Learn Fire Safety Skills

Local Retired Fire Safety Instructor Visits Prescott YMCA Preschool

“Are matches toys or tools?” asked Crystal Macary to the twenty eagerly listening 4-year olds of the Prescott YMCA preschool.

“Tools!” the children shouted in unison.

“Do we play with matches?” asked Macary.

“No!” said the children.

Macary, a retired Fire Safety teacher who worked with the Central Yavapai Fire District for 19 years, volunteered to come in to the Prescott YMCA preschool to teach the children about the difference between toys and adult-only tools, including fire materials. To do this, she brought a box of various items, including dolls, matches, toy cars, and lighters to teach kids about what’s ok to play with- and what’s not.

Crystal Macary teaches the Prescott YMCA preschoolers that lighters are a tool, not a toy.

Macary said that the younger kids are taught about fire safety, the better. “Children who receive fire training between the ages of three and six are 86% less likely to commit a fire offense,” said Macary. That’s why she spent her entire career giving trainings like these. Macary also said that most young kids she talks to can tell her exactly where their parents ‘hide’ their matches or lighters. “Through these trainings, we’re giving kids the skills to ‘say no’ to playing with fire-related materials, and if they encounter these materials, to tell a grown-up so that they can put them up and away.”

Sara Komadina, Director of Prescott YMCA preschool, was glad to bring in Macary -who happens to be the mother of one of her preschool teachers- to talk to her students. Komadina said that learning fire safety skills is critical for all young kids, but is especially important for children in Arizona, where wildfires are a well-known reality. “With the recent fire tragedies, children in Prescott have seen the impact of fire first-hand,” said Komadina. “We hope that if children encounter dangerous materials in the future, the skills and knowledge we have instilled in them through this training can help prevent accidents later on.”

The Prescott YMCA preschool is committed to providing quality early education for young children, and participates in Quality First, a First Things First quality-improvement program for early learning programs. To learn more about the Prescott YMCA preschool, please visit prescottymca.org or call (928) 445-7221.

Teen Parent Program Offers Support, Reduces Isolation

RhiAnne and her 4-month old daughter, Adalayh

When RhiAnne found out she was pregnant at age 16, the bullying and name calling she endured at school got so bad that she decided to drop out.

Fortunately, RhiAnne learned about a program called Teen Outreach Pregnancy Services (TOPS), a free program for adolescent parents funded by First Things First in Yavapai County. Through TOPS, teen moms and dads attend parenting classes, participate in weekly support groups, and receive in-person and on-call support from a registered nurse. The goal of TOPS is to make sure young mothers have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

When she enrolled in TOPS, RhiAnne was relieved to find that it was a non-judgmental environment dedicated to supporting her and wellbeing of her baby. RhiAnne was also able to develop strong friendships with other young mothers, reducing her sense of isolation.

When the teen parents attend parenting classes, they are awarded “TOPS dollars” which they can use to buy necessities such as baby clothes and diapers at Jensen’s Corner, the TOPS store. RhiAnne said that given the cost of raising a child, this part of the program has been especially helpful.

RhiAnne is now the mother of a healthy 4-month old daughter, Adalayh. She said that becoming a mom has permanently changed her perspective on life. “I’ve been thinking about my life recently, and I realize that I’m now much more concerned with my daughter than with myself,” RhiAnne said. “I want what’s best for her, and I know I have to do something with my life so that I can make a good life for her.”

Now, with the support and guidance of the TOPS program, RhiAnne has gone back to school to complete her GED and plans to pursue higher education.

Kimberly, young mother of 9-month old Junior, enrolled in TOPS when she was five months pregnant. She says that having the personable, knowledgeable and non-judgmental support of the staff at TOPS has made a world of difference. “Before TOPS, I knew nothing about pregnancy or raising a child,” said Kimberly. “TOPS has taught me everything I know about being a mother.”

With the guidance of TOPS, teens like RhiAnne and Kimberly are able to get the information and guidance they need to be the best parents they can be. For more information about TOPS or to refer a teen, please visit teenoutreachaz.org or call (928) 772-5590.

Program Partners with Parents to Strengthen Families

Parents as Teachers Works with Families to Boost Children’s Learning

Cheyloh, Tre and Ciel work on an activity together during

a home visit from Jodie, their Parents as Teachers parent educator.

A year and a half ago, Cheyloh Hamilton, a single mother of two energetic young boys, was working two jobs, cooking over a wood stove, and had a house in dire need of repairs. She didn’t have it easy, but she was dedicated to giving her two sons, Ciel, now 4, and Tre, now 3, the best she could. Since 90% of a child’s brain develops before the age of five, Cheyloh wanted to make sure she could give the boys the experiences they needed to grow and learn to their full potential.

One day, when she was volunteering at the Community Pregnancy Center, Cheyloh learned about Parents as Teachers, a free home visiting program of Arizona’s Children Association. Through the program, which is made free for families with children ages 5 and under through a grant from First Things First, families receive visits every two weeks from their personal parent educator, who offers individualized parent education, provides tips and activities to help their children grow and learn, and connects the family to any other community resources available to them.

This was exactly what Cheyloh was looking for. “I wanted a program to help the boys with their learning and development,” Cheyloh said. Now, she and her boys look forward to visits every two weeks from Jodie, their Parents as Teachers parent educator. Every time she visits, Jodie gives Cheyloh information sheets on the boys’ stages of development and brings inexpensive activities she can do to boost their cognitive, social, physical or behavioral skills. “We love the whole program,” said Cheyloh. “The activities have helped the boys with their development, speech, and many other skills.”

With the help of the program, Cheyloh and the boys have set aside family time each day dedicated to reading and learning. Parents as Teachers has also helped Cheyloh develop skills to parent her two very different boys. Ciel is sharp-minded and calm, whereas Tre is more adventurous and sensitive. Cheyloh wants to make sure that she nurtures their individual personalities and strengths. “Parents as Teachers is based on your child, wherever they’re at and whatever they need,” Cheyloh said.

Parents as Teachers has also personally helped Cheyloh, who sometimes suffers from anxiety, with the challenges of being a single mother. “It’s helped me get through this past year and a half,” said Cheyloh about the program. “Parents as Teachers has had a big impact. It brought our family together, connected us to resources, lessened my anxiety and strengthened my parenting.”

Cheyloh is grateful for her partnership with Parents as Teachers as her boys continue to grow, and recommends Parents as Teachers to all families with young children that she knows. “Many people don’t know about Parents as Teachers, but I believe more people need this,” said Cheyloh.

If your family has a young child age 5 or younger and you would like to enroll in Parents as Teachers, please call 1-888-771-3435 X 2026. The program is completely free and available in both English and Spanish.

Fire Safety Taught Early

The Prescott Fire Department Visits Local Preschools

The earlier fire safety skills are taught to a child, the better. To help make sure every member of the family is prepared for a fire emergency – including toddlers and preschoolers- parents and caregivers should talk to their young children about fire safety and practice basic skills at home.

“The most important thing that parents can teach their children is to know two ways out of the house, and to practice these two ways,” said Len DeJoria, Fire Inspector and Coordinator of Public Education at the Prescott Fire Department. “Families should also have a designated outdoor place to meet if an emergency were to happen, and practice going to it.”

The Prescott Fire Department staff and firefighters regularly visit school and preschool classrooms to teach children about fire safety. “During our presentations, we strive to make an impact on kids so that if they’re in an emergency situation, they’ll remember what to do,” said DeJoria. “Hopefully, they will remember the skills we teach them all their lives.”

In a fire emergency, it is important for children to run towards, not away from, firefighters. “With the bulky suit and the Darth Vader-like voice, young children can be scared of firefighters and hide from them,” said DeJoria. During their presentation, the Fire Department allows the children to see and meet a firefighter in full gear.

The Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center, a child care center and preschool in Prescott for children ages five and under, has invited firefighters to visit their classrooms. Tammy Lee, Master Teacher at the center, said that showing a firefighter in full gear is especially helpful for her preschoolers. “[The firefighter] introduced all the different pieces of clothing he has to wear and the reasons they protect him. He proceeded to put on the articles of clothing and explained to the children to not be afraid if they ever seen someone in this uniform- that they are there to help us when there is a fire,” said Lee.

Some of the other skills the Fire Department teaches, which parents and caregivers are encouraged to practice with their kids, include:

· Stop, drop and roll

· Crawl low under smoke

· Testing smoke detectors (letting children hear the smoke detector sound and making sure they know that it is a signal to leave the house)

For more tips and skills, Fire Inspector DeJoria also recommends that parents of young children visit the U.S. Fire Department Administration website, which includes a pre-K fire safety curriculum designed by Sesame Street. For educators that are interested in bringing in the Fire Department to offer a training to children, the Prescott Fire Department public education division can be reached at (928)-777-1765.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Media Hits: September 25, 2013- October 22, 2013

Instructions not included: Helpline a lifesaver for parents of young children

Daily Courier: September 29, 2013

http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=123734&SectionID=74&SubSectionID=114&S=1

Help for grandparents raising grandchildren

Camp Verde Bugle and the Verde Independent: October 12, 2013

http://cvbugle.com/main.asp?SectionID=74&SubSectionID=114&ArticleID=40067

http://www.verdenews.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=56673&SectionID=74&SubSectionID=114&S=1

Fill-a-Crib to help parenting, pregnant teens

Prescott Valley Tribune: October 2, 2013

http://pvtrib.com/main.asp?SectionID=74&SubSectionID=114&ArticleID=59296

First Things First About Halloween

The Sedona Eye: October 16, 2013

http://sedonaeye.com/first-things-first-about-halloween

“Girlfriends” Talk Show: October 11^th and 18^th

http://www.kqna.com/az-girlfriend-show-archives

Yavapai Child Care Coalition Conference Draws Over 160 Early Educators

On Saturday, October 19^th at Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, the Yavapai Child Care Coalition held “Sowing the Seeds of Tomorrow,” a conference that drew over 160 child care professionals from across the county and surrounding areas. The Yavapai Child Care Coalition, a grassroots organization that brings child care providers together for support, camaraderie, and direct access to resources, has organized annual conferences -sponsored by First Things First- since 2009.

“With the tools and education provided at these conferences, child care providers are given opportunities to learn and share their ideas,” said Kate Delafield, Yavapai Child Care Coalition member.

“These conferences give me the opportunity to stay fresh and on top of new things,” said Jill Wagner, child care provider at Sacred Heart Preschool in Prescott. “Here, child care providers are able to ‘steal’ ideas from each other. It’s great to be around others in our field, and learn new skills and activities we can use to help prepare children for kindergarten.” This is the third Yavapai Child Care Coalition that Wagner has attended with her colleagues.

Dana Naimark of Children’s Action Alliance

Dana Naimark, President and CEO of Children’s Action Alliance, gave the conference’s keynote address, in which she spoke about the current state of the early childhood field in Arizona and thanked child care providers for their hard work. “About half of young children in Yavapai County have all parents working. Quality child care and early education is in tremendous demand,” Naimark said to the conference participants. “You are shaping the future and changing children’s lives.”

Naimark said that in Arizona, less than a third of 4-year-olds are enrolled in preschool- the second lowest rate of preschool enrollment in the country. Naimark spoke about the different initiatives in Arizona that are working to improve early learning and health for young children ages birth to five years, including BUILD Arizona and First Things First.

Research shows that children who attend quality child care or preschool have better math, language, social skills, and are more successful when they enter school. Naimark urged conference participants to spread the word about the importance of early childhood education and health to the future of Arizona. “Investment in early childhood will help us achieve the goals Arizona has set, including prosperity for the whole state, lowering the number of children in foster care, increasing 3^rd grade reading scores and building a strong economy,” said Naimark.

Participants share a delicious meal prepared by Chef Jim Cabral at the

Yavapai Child Care Coalition Conference.

The Yavapai Child Care Coalition looks forward to organizing future conferences, bringing together local child care professionals to learn new skills and share ideas so that they may help the young children in their care build a strong foundation for success.

The Yavapai Child Care Coalition Conferences are supported in part by First Things First. For more information about First Things First, please visit ReadyAZKids.com.

Raring to Read at Prescott YMCA Preschool

Prescott YMCA Participates in Raising a Reader

In Arizona, over a quarter of fourth graders are not reading proficiently. The best way to reverse this trend is to make sure children are read to- every day- before they enter kindergarten. Reading aloud to young children has many noted benefits, including strengthening vocabulary, building pre-literacy skills, and improving focus. It is also an excellent parent-child bonding activity.

“No single activity has proven to be as important to a child’s school success as reading aloud to a child,” said Carolyn Shelley, Coordinator of Raising a Reader in Yavapai County, a program partners with child care centers, homes and other early childhood organizations to encourage more reading at home.

In Yavapai County, Raising a Reader is a program of Yavapai College that is funded by First Things First. Through the program, children bring home a red bag filled with books each week to read with their family, and exchange the bag for a new one the following week. After doing this for sixteen weeks, teachers, parents and children end the program with a celebration.

Since starting in Yavapai County in July 2011, Raising a Reader has worked with 34 early learning programs and put over 50,000 books in the hands of young children.

The Prescott YMCA Preschool participated in Raising a Reader last year. “Before we participated in the program, I was surprised and shocked to find out how little parents were reading to their children at home,” said Sara Komadina, YMCA Preschool Director. Some parents didn’t think they were good readers. Others didn’t think they had the time. One parent who suffered from dyslexia didn’t think that she could be able to always read each word accurately. Komadina assured her that it wasn’t about just about the exact words in a book. Reading with a child was also about using imagination, doing something together, asking questions about the story, and helping the child to think critically. To support and encourage more parents to read to their children every day, Komadina enrolled the preschool in Raising a Reader.

Komadina said that it was easy to get the parents on board with the program. “They were excited to participate,” Komadina said. When she organized a family literacy night, Komadina was happily surprised when many more families came than she had planned for. Soon, she began hearing that parents were reading to their children every night and beginning to take their children to the public library more often. “It was transformative for both parents and children,” Komadina said.

The children at the YMCA preschool were disappointed when the program ended and they had to give back the red book bags they coveted, but their participation in Raising a Reader continue to have lasting benefits. By promoting daily reading at home during the preschool years, Raising a Reader is helping make sure the young kids of the Prescott YMCA preschool are building the skills they need to read and succeed in the future.

In Yavapai County, Raising a Reader is implemented by Yavapai College and funded by First Things First. To get tips and tools to help parents and caregivers read aloud to children, please visit ReadyAZKids.com.

Fire Safety Taught Early

Some of the other skills the Fire Department teaches, which parents and caregivers are encouraged to practice with their kids, include:

· Stop, drop and roll

· Crawl low under smoke

· Testing smoke detectors (letting children hear the smoke detector sound and making sure they know that it is a signal to leave the house)

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Knowing Where to Start

Teen Outreach Pregnancy Services Partners with Pregnant and Parenting Teens

Pregnant at age 17, Kaiti Robertson didn’t know what to do. What she did know was that she had no idea how to be a parent, and she didn’t have the finances to support a child. The baby’s dad was out of the picture, and Kaiti had yet to finish high school. “When it came to raising a child, I didn’t know where to start,” said Kaiti.

Kaiti and her son, Raedyn

When a friend told her about Teen Outreach Pregnancy Services (TOPS), a free program for pregnant and parenting teens, Kaiti eagerly enrolled. Through TOPS, she would be able to attend support groups with her peers, attend teen-specific parenting education classes, receive home visits from a nurse, and get her many questions answered. She would have access to the support she needed every step of the way.

During her pregnancy, Kaiti was especially grateful for the help she received from her TOPS nurse, Jasmine. “I didn’t know anything about pregnancy,” said Kaiti. “Everything I experienced, I thought there was something wrong.” One day, during her third trimester, Kaiti began feeling strange spasms in her abdominal area. She panicked. “I was prepared to go to the hospital,” said Kaiti. But first, she called Jasmine.

Jasmine assured her that nothing was wrong. Her baby merely had the hiccups. “Jasmine helped me realize what I was experiencing was normal,” said Kaiti.

Now, Kaiti is the proud mother of a healthy 6-week old boy, Raedyn. Together, they live at home with her parents. “I didn’t think I could raise a baby on my own, but at TOPS, I know I have the support I need.” said Kaiti. “I met people in my same situation. TOPS helped me feel more confident.”

Kaiti said that the parenting classes she has attended have been particularly helpful. “I don’t think there was anything that I knew about parenting before these classes,” said Kaiti. “We learn about everything, from the importance of bonding to eating healthy.” Like many of the other girls at TOPS, Kaiti had been terrified of giving birth. The support groups and classes helped with that, too. Together, the girls watched labor videos and laughed as they learned birthing breathing techniques.

By attending the parenting education classes offered at TOPS, teens earn “TOPS dollars,” which they can redeem for baby items and necessities at Jensen’s Corner, a small “shop” located at the TOPS office. With her TOPS dollars, Kaiti was able to purchase a crib for Raedyn.

TOPS also helps teens plan for the future, and teens can stay in the program until their baby turns 2. This fall, Kaiti is working on completing her GED, and will then begin a job hunt. “Everyone here at TOPS is supportive, helping you make the best decisions for you and your baby,” said Kaiti. With the help of TOPS, Kaiti is looking forward to her future of motherhood and watching Raedyn grow and learn.

In Yavapai County, Teen Outreach Pregnancy Services (TOPS) is funded by First Things First. For more information about TOPS or to enroll a teen, please visit teenoutreachaz.org.